Piazzo 2009 Barbaresco (DOCG), $26.99-$32.99, 93 points, poured a lovely cranberry red with a broad clear wine ring.
Perfumed aromas were soft sandalwood, violets, cinnamon, and black grape.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and mildly supportive tannins carried deliciously feminine will–o'–the–wisp flavors difficult to delineate, but its gestalt wove amore.
Smoothly textured throughout with trailing flavors of lavender, warm spices, red cherry, coffee, savory, a whisper of oak, and a perfect 14% alcohol.
Paired well with our meat-lovers pizza.
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October is Merlot Month!
Robert Mondavi Napa Valley 2012 Merlot (revisited), $19.99-$23.99, 89 points, poured, smelled, and tasted slightly different after only one year, but all for the good.
Color was more burgundy trending blood-red toward the clear wine ring and leggy glass wall.
Aromas were herbal with toasty plum, clove, cedar, and a floral component.
More than medium-bodied with good acidity and appropriately supportive tannin which managed flavors reflective of the aromas with hints of chocolate and mulberry.
Finished well on the trailing palate with a hot spice inspirited by a potent 15% alcohol.
Varietals were 78% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Syrah, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot.
Paired nicely with my roasted red pepper/onion and sweet sausage sub.
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Bodegas Breca 'Oronta' (Calatayud, Aragón) 2013 Garnacha, $10.79-$14.99, 87 points, poured core black trending purple/red at the broad clear wine ring and heavily laden glass wall.
Excellent early aromas were floral, grapey, and toasty with coffee notes, but devolved a bit plummy.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and escalating firm tannins began juicy and smooth, but transitioned quickly toward strident expressions of that acidity and those tannins.
Flavors reflective of the aromas with blackberry were quite good.
Finished energized with cayenne pepper, tart red fruit, and a potent 14.5% alcohol, but after breathing for a few hours developed a more plum dominant flavor.
This is a food friendly red wine which paired perfectly with my portabella mushroom tomato sauce poured over Italian sausage on spaghetti.
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October is Merlot Month!
RombaueR Carneros 2012 Merlot, $25.99-$32.99, 89 points, poured core black grading to a deep purple/red at the clear wine ring.
Aromatic lavender, plum, and chocolate on the nose were pleasant.
Full-bodied with good acidity and a moderate underlayment of tannin carried a rich early palate of clove, plum, and violets straight into the tight late and long finish of aroma reflective flavors with a 14.5% alcohol enhanced warm spiciness.
Paired fine with my traditional steak and potatoes with asparagus.
Varietals were 92% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot.
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Banfi Castello 2013 Rosso di Montalcino, $16.14-$20.99, 88 points, appeared as a cherry red garnet with a broad clear wine ring.
Aromas were earthy and fruity with red cherry.
Medium-plus body with good acidity and rather coarse tannins, managed blunt flavors of plum, truffle, and tart pomegranate.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a tad green, warm spice, and a sweet-spot 13.5% alcohol.
This Rosso was reminiscent of the 2009 (not as good), but quite dry and reasonable; paired fine with my not so optimum spicy chili.
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Barton and Guestier Côtes de Provence 2015 Rosé, $10.99-$13.99, 90 points, poured a gossamer peach-textured color.
Lovely strawberry and soft peppermint aromas impressed.
Light, crisp, excellent acidity, and good flavors of ginger, strawberry, and melon rind added to the impression.
Finished well on the trailing palate, a hint of Marshmallow Peanut Candy, and a spot-on 13% alcohol.
Paired well with my pu-pu platter.
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Carpineto 2013 Rosso di Montalcino, $23.79-$27.99, 91+ points, poured a lovely cranberry red with a broad clear wine ring.
The most aromatically floral of the tasted 2013 Rosso di Montalcino wines, but rich black cherry and fresh laundered linen were fine complements.
Medium-plus body with appropriately layered and firm tannins managed an excellent fruity flavor profile, but interesting mushroom, mint, and cilantro notes added a sophisticated depth.
Finished well on white pepper, bay leaf, the trailing palate, and a warm 14% alcohol.
Paired fine with my provincial burgers.
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